ATTENDANCE: 30 points
- After 3 absences (allowed), -3 points per day missed.
- Mo 3:05PM-5:45PM New Bldg 1.125
- Meeting schedule below.
WRITING: 70 points = 50 (10 pts x 5 journals) + 20 (1 paper)
- Submit 5 Journals (each by 9/30, 10/15, 10/30, 11/15, 11/30) and 1 Paper (12/15) to TurnItIn.
- How to write journals and paper: see FAQ below; each journal about 500 words, paper 2500.
- Class ID: 45212839 Password: madness
- Sample Paper: on Self-identity
- Late submissions accepted until 11:59pm 12/15 with penalties: -2 points for each cycle missed.
- Resubmission of up to 2 Journals accepted until 11:59pm 12/15.
Textbook: The Big Questions. Any editions
- 9/8 The First Day of Class
- 9/15 Ch 1 Philosophical Questions
- 9/29 Ch 2 The Meaning of Life
- 10/6 Ch 3 God
- 10/14 Ch 4 The Nature of Reality
- 10/24 Ch 5 The Search for Truth
- 10/27 Ch 6 Self
- 11/3 Ch 7 Freedom
- 11/10 Ch 8 Morality and the Good Life
- 11/17 Ch 9 Justice and the Good Society
- 11/24 Ch 10 Beauty
- 12/1 Ch 11 Non-Western Philosophy
- 12/8 The Last Day of Class
Office Hours: by email / appointment kylee@jjay.cuny.edu
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Course Description
An introduction to four major philosophical questions: What can I know for certain? Does God exist? How should I act toward others? What is justice? This analysis of the foundations of knowledge, religious belief, ethical theory, and social justice includes readings from Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas, Descartes, Kant, Mill, and contemporary philosophers.
Course Objectives
To gain some basic understanding of philosophical ideas and methods by reading, debating and writing about some of the key texts and issues.
Textbook
Kathleen Higgins and Robert Solomon, The Big Questions (Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning, 2017). 10th Edition. ISBN-10: 1305955447
Any earlier editions are acceptable too.
Recommended/Further Readings
Any materials of your choosing, online or in print.
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Contents/Sequence
- This course focuses on your individually-paced and oriented reading and writing.
- The textbook functions as the proxy guide in terms of both topical coverage and a set of study questions for you to choose to answer.
- The book has 11 chapters and you choose at least 5, your own; your journal topics should come from the "opening questions" in the book, in any combination.
Good For General/Quick Introductions and Overviews:
Topic 01: Philosophical Questions
Topic 02: The Meaning of Life
Topic 03: God
Topic 04: The Nature of Reality
Topic 05: The Search for Truth
Topic 06: Self
Topic 07: Freedom
Topic 08: Morality and the Good Life
Topic 09: Justice and the Good Society
Topic 10: Beauty
Topic 11: Non-Western Philosophy
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FAQ
1. What Counts as a Journal?
Study the textbook(s) carefully, especially the part/page/chapter of your choice, and write a well-condensed and composed entry containing all three elements:
@ a succinct summary of the reading material or section of your choice
@ a critical response to or close analysis of any crucial passage(s) which should also be clearly cited, and
@ a conclusive elaboration of the significance of the topic and the passage(s) under discussion.
Here are some samples: journals on "The Personal is Theoretical?" | Theoretical is Scientific? | "Naming Oppression and Position"
These examples are simply a few illustrations. Aim for a comparable level of analytic, substantial and critical reading to earn an above-the-average grade.
Some writing tips:
- Try and "budget" words around each quote you intend to discuss and connect. You could start mechanically with around 70-80 words per paragraph.
- In this class, well-incorporated and thoughtful reflections on real life episodes as examples are more than welcome. In fact, they would be very interesting.
- Make sure you aim for quality, not quantity, and logical and engaging links among ideas, not just a series of fragmented thoughts merely bundled together.
1.1 What citational style should I use for the journals?
Any standard academic style such as APA/Chicago/MLA
1.2 Where do I submit a journal and how is it graded?
Each journal should be submitted to Turnitin and will be graded and returned with comments within 2 weeks of submission.
1.3 Can I write multiple journals on a single figure?
Yes. For instance, you can certainly write all of your five journals on one word or even a paragraph. What matters is the quality of your studied reflection and writing.
1.4 Can I write more than five journals?
No. Redirect your surplus energy to paper writing, your final paper.
1.5 Can I rewrite my journals and resubmit them for better grades?
Yes. Up to 2 journals post-feedback. If your revision is evidently better, your final grade will be higher. I have created 2 additional folders for your optional revision.
1.6 Can I just write down my own thoughts? Or does it have to be about what the textbook/an author says?
Journal writing in the academic context means: studying the textbook closely and comprehensively, and citing specific passages to a) explain and contextualize its core meaning further, b) argue for or against it or any specific parts of it through your own reasoning process with a view to 3) drawing a conclusion while showing why that analysis matters at all from a broader and wider perspective. Try to cover all those elements in sequence. So try to explain in the most specific, clearest and most precise terms what exactly you have understood, what exactly you find most illuminating, what exactly you find most agreeable or objectionable, etc., with a view to composing all that into a well-structured mini-essay.
2. What Are the Grading Criteria?
97- A+
93- A90- A-87- B+83- B80- B-77- C+73- C70- C-67- D+63- D60- D-Below 60 F (Fail)On the 100 point scale, each journal counts up to 15 points (15 x 5 =75 points) and the remaining 25 points are for the final paper.
Grade A: Mastery of the issues and literature, and an ability to make some original contribution. Grade B: Good grasp of issues and literature, but little or no attempt at own contribution. Grade C: Some but uncertain grasp of the issues. Grade D: Failure to grasp issues but some attempt made. Grade F: Not even trying. 3. What are the Basic Requirements for the Final Paper?
- Sample: on Self-identity
- Topic: any figure(s)/chapter(s)/topic(s) of your choice from the textbook(s): if you have any other specific suggestions, discuss them with me first for approval.
- Primary Source: textbook(s): you are required to study and cite from the primary materials.
- Outside Sources: print or internet-based, in any combination, supplementary (not required), limited to 10; any reference, a url, a chapter, or a book, counts as 1.
- Bibliographic Format: any standard academic style such as APA/Chicago/MLA
- See Grading Rubric And Refer to John Jay Writing Center Referral Form.
- Strongly Recommendable Reference: They Say/I Say: Moves That Matter in Academic Writing with Readings
3.1 So basically, the final paper is an expanded version of a journal?
Yes, structurally, the set of requirements for the final paper is the same as that for a journal. You go deeper and further in your analysis of the set of topic(s) of your choice, and your paper should have one overriding topic around which every sub-topic is organized and systematically connected.
3.2 Can I incorporate my own journals into my final paper by literally reusing some passages?
Yes. Your paper could certainly expand on some of the key points in your own journals also by importing some sections, as long as your paper as a whole makes sense.
3.3 Do I have to cite from "outside sources"?
No.
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Statement of College Policy on Plagiarism
"Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else‘s ideas, words, or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one‘s own creation. Using the ideas or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations, require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism. It is the student‘s responsibility to recognize the difference between statements that are common knowledge (which do not require documentation) and restatements of the ideas of others. Paraphrase, summary, and direct quotation are acceptable forms of restatement, as long as the source is cited. Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The Library has free guides designed to help students with problems of documentation." (From the John Jay College of Criminal Justice Undergraduate Bulletin, p. 36)
Should plagiarism be determined, a formal disciplinary action will be taken immediately: the student in question will receive an F grade for the course.Accommodation of Religious Observances
Upon request, academic accommodations for a religious observance are available on an individual basis; by the end of the second week, please provide me with a supplementary document that specifies and verifies your context and needs for modification.
Accommodation of Documented Disabilities
Please contact me within the first two weeks of the semester. An appropriate, case-by-case arrangement will be made to ensure that the student in question is given an
equal opportunity for learning.
PHI 231. The Big Questions
Prof. Kyoo Lee, 524 West 59th St. Rm 8.63.15, Dept. of Philosophy, John Jay College, CUNY
Office Hours: By Appointment
